A Rooster for Asklepios: A Slave's Story, Book 1

By Christopher D. Stanley

A slave without a past. A master without a future. A journey of discovery that will forever change the lives of both men. The ancient world comes alive in this engaging trilogy by an expert on Roman history.

What if you discovered that you were not who you thought you were; that your true family history had been hidden from you since birth? What if the truth about your origins would make others despise you? What if the man who arranged the deception was seriously ill and needed your help? What if you were a slave and that man held your life in his hands; and you his?

Lucius Coelius Felix has everything a Roman nobleman could desire; wealth, honor, a retinue of clients, and the chance to rise at last into elite society in Antioch-near-Pisidia (a Roman colony in central Turkey). The only thing he lacks is a sound body. When a mysterious illness robs him of his strength, he turns to the Greek healing god Asklepios, journeying hundreds of miles to his sanctuary at Pergamon in search of a miracle.

Traveling with him is Selena, a former slave whom he freed to make his wife, and Marcus, a bright young slave who manages his records and correspondence. Marcus's loyalty is challenged when he learns how Lucius has lied about his family history and identity while Lucius faces a similar test from what happens at Pergamon. Neither will ever be the same, but what will become of them is yet to be seen.

From the bustling markets and elite homes of Antioch and Ephesus to the sacred sanctuary at Pergamon, A Rooster for Asklepios brings to life a little-known corner of the Roman world that has been neglected by previous storytellers. Fans of Conn Iggulden, Ken Follett, and Robert Graves will be captivated by this richly detailed and compelling exploration of life in first-century Roman Asia Minor.

Who Will Like This Book?Readers who enjoy complex stories about flawed characters, epic journeys, and characters who struggle with their identities and commitments, including their views of religionReaders who appreciate richly detailed and historically accurate accounts of daily life in the pastReaders who want to know more about the social and religious world of early Judaism and Christianity (including Roman religion and antisemitism); how Greeks and Romans dealt with sickness (medicine, miracle, and magic); and what life was like at specific Roman archaeological sites in Turkey (Ephesus, Pergamum, Hierapolis, Antioch.).Christopher D. Stanley is an emeritus professor at St. Bonaventure University who studies and writes about the social history of early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world. He has written or edited seven academic books and dozens of professional articles on the subject and presents papers regularly at conferences around the world. The "A Slave's Story" trilogy, which grew out of his historical research on first-century Asia Minor, is his first work of fiction. . For more information, click on his name below the title in this listing.

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST TWO VOLUMES
"This compelling and enjoyable story offers the reader a superb 'insider' view of life in the first-century Greco-Roman world. I enjoyed traipsing around Anatolia with Lucius and Marcus!"
-Dr. Terence Donaldson, Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament, Wycliffe College, Canada

"The realism of this story reflects the author's deep first-hand knowledge of the landscape and culture where the narrative takes place."
-Dr. Mark Wilson, Director, Asia Minor Research Center, Antalya, Turkey

"This well-researched book really brings the Roman world to life!"
-Dr. Alanna Nobbs, Professor of Ancient History, Macquarie University, Australia

"The amount of research, imagination, and effort involved in crafting this story earned my admiration, and stirred my curiosity, too."
-Dr. Mark Nanos, Lecturer, University of Kansas

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1953610072
• ISBN13: 9781953610072
• Release Date: October 2020
• Publisher: Nfb Publishing
• Length: 524 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"